All About Tuckpointing

I love the brickwork displayed on the front of my home. It adds character and charm. Unfortunately, a few months ago it was apparent that the brickwork had seen better days; the concrete-like material holding the bricks in place was starting to fall apart.
I wasn't sure what to do about it, so I called in a contractor. He said that with a process called tuckpointing, my brickwork could look good as new and last several more decades.
I decided to create this website because I know there are many people out there who are like me when I first heard that term. I had no idea what tuckpointing was, how it was done, how long it would last or what benefits it had. If you have these questions, my website should give you all the information you need to know about it.

How To Repair A Small Hole In A Plaster Wall

Posted on:
31 December 2014

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Having a hole in your otherwise smooth and pristine plaster wall can mar the beauty of your home. While plaster that's damaged across a large area will probably require the attention of a professional like Old World Plastering, it's relatively easy to repair small holes in plaster yourself. Once you make the repair, it should not be visible, leaving you with the same flat wall you had before. The following will show you how to make this kind of repair.

What You Will Need

Utility Knife

Chisel

Hammer

Sponges

Patching Plaster

Putty Knife

Plastic Bucket

Steel Square

Joint Compound for Drywall

Drywall Knife

Sandpaper

Small Wood Block

Step 1. Use a chisel and hammer to remove the damaged and loose plaster along the inside edge of the hole. Remove any loose debris inside the hole. Use a utility knife to cut the edges of the hole at an angle. You want to make the hole wider on the inside (close to the lath) than it is at the surface.

Step 2. Soak a sponge in some water and then wring out the excess. Use the sponge to dampen the wooden lath and the inside surface of the hole. Following the manufacturer's printed instructions, mix your patching plaster in a plastic bucket. Use a putty knife to start filling in the hole with the plaster. You don't want to completely fill the hole to the outside surface of the wall. Instead, stop approximately one quarter of an inch from the outside surface. Let the plaster dry for at least 24 hours.

Step 3. Mix a second batch of patching plaster. Soak and ring out another sponge and slightly dampen the layer plaster you applied earlier. Then use your putty knife to lay in a second layer of plaster on top of the first layer. Pull the edge of a steel square across the wall and the repair you have made. This will smooth out the plaster so it is even with the rest of the wall. Again, let the plaster dry for 24 hours.

Step 4. Going along the outside edge of the patch, use a piece of fine sandpaper to smooth away any bumps you find in the patching plaster. Then use a drywall knife to add a thin coat of drywall joint compound. Make certain that the compound is even and smoothly joins with the surrounding wall. Let this dry for 24 hours.

Step 5. Wrap a sheet of sandpaper around a small wooden block. Use this to sand the drywall compound. You want to get a perfectly smooth surface. After this, simply paint the patch the same color as the rest of the wall.